Southend Hospital staff paid less than every other NHS organisation in the country

SOUTHEND Hospital staff are paid as much as £1,380 a year less than their counterparts at every other NHS organisation in the country.

The trust opted out of a national pay deal in 2006 and a string of local pay freezes have left staff out of pocket, the hospital admits.

Trade union Unison has blamed the low pay for a staffing crisis, which has seen the hospital spend as much as £1million a month on agency workers.

A total of £29million has been spent on agency staff in the past four years, as revealed in Monday’s Echo.

But the hospital claims workers back the local deal and says most staff leave because of a lack of opportunity for promotion.

About 95 per cent of staff voted to keep the local package, which includes 33 days leave, long-service awards and up to 12 weeks to care for a terminally ill relative, rather than opt for the national “agenda for change” terms and conditions in 2006, which were adopted by every other NHS organisation in the country.

A series of pay freezes introduced at the hospital means local salaries are between £92 and £1,380 per year behind Agenda for Change equivalents, prompting Unison to call for a pay rise.

Regional organiser Sam Older said: “NHS staff at Southend are truly worth a pay rise. They should be paid in line with other staff working for other NHS trusts.

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“The recent pay offer for NHS staff on Agenda for Change terms is an insult to our members who undertake vital work, and the current local pay for staff at Southend is even less.

“Southend NHS needs to catch up on pay to keep quality NHS staff working in Southend.”

Sandra Le Blanc, director of human resources for the hospital, said: “In previous years, following consultation with staff and the recognised trade unions, the trust did not increase pay scales in order to minimise redundancies.

“However we did so last April in line with the national pay award of one per cent.

“Staff that leave the trust are asked to complete a confidential exit questionnaire online.

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“The latest information shows the primary reason for staff choosing to leave is related to opportunities for promotion.

“There is no evidence to suggest that having local terms and conditions has had an impact on attracting new staff as we have the flexibility to place staff on any point within our pay scales.”

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Comments (10)

Southend Hospital staff paid less than every other NHS organisation in the country

Kim Gandy says...8:42am Wed 16 Apr 14

I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case. Mad. Absolutely crazy.

I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case.
Mad. Absolutely crazy.Kim Gandy

I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case. Mad. Absolutely crazy.

Score: 1

AuldGit says...9:47am Wed 16 Apr 14

In the Echo item on the huge bill for agency staff on 15th April Brian Shipley said he had been experiencing increased difficulty in recruiting experienced and trained staff. Maybe it's because Southend Hospital offers the lowest wages in the country.

In the Echo item on the huge bill for agency staff on 15th April Brian Shipley said he had been experiencing increased difficulty in recruiting experienced and trained staff.
Maybe it's because Southend Hospital offers the lowest wages in the country.AuldGit

In the Echo item on the huge bill for agency staff on 15th April Brian Shipley said he had been experiencing increased difficulty in recruiting experienced and trained staff. Maybe it's because Southend Hospital offers the lowest wages in the country.

Score: 5

Southend Badman says...10:18am Wed 16 Apr 14

They probably do get paid the same, its just that they got to pay over the top parking prices. At Southend airport, in the car park opposite the Holiday Inn, when I parked my car there for 5 nights, as I got back into it and was going to drive out not looking forward to the £50 parking charge maybe, there is a gap in between the barrier and the fence. Its tight, but we managed to squeeze our car through and avoid paying 5 days parking! Its worth a try if your looking to save yourself a bit of money!

They probably do get paid the same, its just that they got to pay over the top parking prices. At Southend airport, in the car park opposite the Holiday Inn, when I parked my car there for 5 nights, as I got back into it and was going to drive out not looking forward to the £50 parking charge maybe, there is a gap in between the barrier and the fence. Its tight, but we managed to squeeze our car through and avoid paying 5 days parking! Its worth a try if your looking to save yourself a bit of money!Southend Badman

They probably do get paid the same, its just that they got to pay over the top parking prices. At Southend airport, in the car park opposite the Holiday Inn, when I parked my car there for 5 nights, as I got back into it and was going to drive out not looking forward to the £50 parking charge maybe, there is a gap in between the barrier and the fence. Its tight, but we managed to squeeze our car through and avoid paying 5 days parking! Its worth a try if your looking to save yourself a bit of money!

Score: 3

gingerfox says...1:34pm Wed 16 Apr 14

If the hospital is so short of staff, how would paying a modest inflation level pay rise result in rendundancies? Even one or two people not leaving would save on agency staff

If the hospital is so short of staff, how would paying a modest inflation level pay rise result in rendundancies? Even one or two people not leaving would save on agency staffgingerfox

If the hospital is so short of staff, how would paying a modest inflation level pay rise result in rendundancies? Even one or two people not leaving would save on agency staff

Score: 2

Mikkel1 says...2:27pm Wed 16 Apr 14

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose outMikkel1

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

Score: 5

Southend Badman says...2:50pm Wed 16 Apr 14

Mikkel1 wrote…

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.

[quote][p][bold]Mikkel1[/bold] wrote:
I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out[/p][/quote]Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.Southend Badman

Mikkel1 wrote…

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.

Score: -1

essexjack07 says...4:13pm Wed 16 Apr 14

In relation to workers backing the deal to retain local terms and conditions this was done on the promise that these terms and conditions would always be equal to or better than the national (agenda for change) terms and conditions. The directors did not honour this promise. Staff were threatened with in the past of having a pay rise or numerous staff being made redundant.

In relation to workers backing the deal to retain local terms and conditions this was done on the promise that these terms and conditions would always be equal to or better than the national (agenda for change) terms and conditions. The directors did not honour this promise.
Staff were threatened with in the past of having a pay rise or numerous staff being made redundant.essexjack07

In relation to workers backing the deal to retain local terms and conditions this was done on the promise that these terms and conditions would always be equal to or better than the national (agenda for change) terms and conditions. The directors did not honour this promise. Staff were threatened with in the past of having a pay rise or numerous staff being made redundant.

Score: 0

runwellian says...4:17pm Wed 16 Apr 14

Kim Gandy wrote…

I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case. Mad. Absolutely crazy.

If you cannot recruit staff and patients need caring fro, you have to pay the going rate or shut wards. southend hospital staff do not qualify for the 'London rating' so will get paid less. Le the public decide, pay extra for nursing cover or close wards?

[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote:
I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case.
Mad. Absolutely crazy.[/p][/quote]If you cannot recruit staff and patients need caring fro, you have to pay the going rate or shut wards.
southend hospital staff do not qualify for the 'London rating' so will get paid less.
Le the public decide, pay extra for nursing cover or close wards?runwellian

Kim Gandy wrote…

I bet they pay a fortune for agency staff though, when they use them. That's usually the case. Mad. Absolutely crazy.

If you cannot recruit staff and patients need caring fro, you have to pay the going rate or shut wards. southend hospital staff do not qualify for the 'London rating' so will get paid less. Le the public decide, pay extra for nursing cover or close wards?

Score: 0

runwellian says...4:21pm Wed 16 Apr 14

Southend Badman wrote…

Mikkel1 wrote…

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.

Dole dosser, get off your backside and work. What would do if everyone stopped working and there was no many yo keep the likes of you? i am pleased the benefit cuts are targeting useless plebs like you!

[quote][p][bold]Southend Badman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Mikkel1[/bold] wrote:
I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out[/p][/quote]Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.[/p][/quote]Dole dosser, get off your backside and work.
What would do if everyone stopped working and there was no many yo keep the likes of you?
i am pleased the benefit cuts are targeting useless plebs like you!runwellian

Southend Badman wrote…

Mikkel1 wrote…

I BET Managers still got their over-rated salaries? Te real workers in ANY job are always those to lose out

Thats why I dont work. Easier to live life on the dole.

Dole dosser, get off your backside and work. What would do if everyone stopped working and there was no many yo keep the likes of you? i am pleased the benefit cuts are targeting useless plebs like you!

Score: -1

jolllyboy says...6:16pm Wed 16 Apr 14

Since they still close wards when the population is rising it makes sense to increase the amount hospitals are given, that would get more staff and treat more patients. It is time to increase the nat ins for employees but if not been in the country five years they should pay more.

Since they still close wards when the population is rising it makes sense to increase the amount hospitals are given, that would get more staff and treat more patients. It is time to increase the nat ins for employees but if not been in the country five years they should pay more.jolllyboy

Since they still close wards when the population is rising it makes sense to increase the amount hospitals are given, that would get more staff and treat more patients. It is time to increase the nat ins for employees but if not been in the country five years they should pay more.

Ipsoregulated

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